Turf Paradise: Table Mesa tries to keep rolling

PHOENIX – Table Mesa looks to continue her superb meet as the 123-pound highweight in Saturday’s $25,000 Princess of Palms Handicap at Turf Paradise. The 6-year-old mare, who is going for her third consecutive stakes win of the meet, leads a field of seven fillies and mares going six furlongs.

Table Mesa’s exploits this meet would normally be enough to garner horse of the meet honors, especially if she were to win again Saturday, However, All Saint’s four-stakes meet likely means Table Mesa can’t garner such honors.

No matter. It’s still been a wonderful stand for her. This meet she’s run second in the Queen of Green and Phoenix, third in the Kachina and second in the Glendale. Then she really hit her stride: She won the Sun City by 10 lengths in the slop Feb. 19 and comes off a rallying three-quarter-length victory over a number of Saturday’s rivals in the Mesa Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs here March 12. Regular rider Scott Stevens stays aboard Table Mesa, who is owned by Dennis Weir and trained by Sandi Gann.

It still doesn’t figure to be easy. Trojan Victory was second to her in the Mesa, beaten less than a length, and she returns on Saturday. The 7-year-old Trojan Victory has been superb, finishing first or second in seven straight races. She won the Phoenix (beating Table Mesa by three lengths) and comes off three straight second-place finishes, including in the Mesa. Daniel Vergara rides at 120.

Beautiful Holiday, trained by Dan McFarlane, comes here sharp off two straight optional claiming wins.

An interesting new shooter is Shakenwithanolive. A 5-year-old mare, Shakenwithanolive ran second in the Sun Devil here in October 2009 and third in this race last year. After that she shipped to Northlands Park where she won two stakes last summer. This marks her first start since she ran sixth in a route stakes there last Oct. 9. She’s worked superbly, though, going five furlongs in 58 seconds March 27 and six furlongs in 1:11.20 March 19.